DEVICE FOR THERMALLY INSULATING A BUILDING WALL FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING SUCH A DEVICE

Abstract

A device (2) for thermally insulating a building wall (1) from the outside, being applicable in particular to walls and roofs, includes, starting from the wall, a layer (3) of impermeable rigid insulation, spacers (4) and a perforated rigid facing sheet (6) at a distance from the layer (3) of rigid insulation so as to form an air gap (7) between the facing sheet and the layer (3) of rigid insulation. A layer (8) of granular insulation (9) in divided form is contained in synthetic textile bags (10) placed in the air gap (7). A method for implementing such a device is also described.

Claims

1. Device (2) for thermal insulation from the outside of a building partition (1), in particular applicable to walls and to roofs, comprising: A rigid and impermeable insulation layer (3) comprising a first surface, a so-called contact surface (31), suitable for being attached to said partition, and a second surface, a so-called outer surface (32), opposite to the contact surface, A rigid and perforated cladding plate (6), Spacers (4) attached to said outer surface and adapted to hold said cladding plate at a distance from the outer surface and to form an air gap (7) between said cladding plate (6) and the outer surface (32) of the rigid insulation layer (3), A layer (8) of granular insulation between the rigid insulation layer (3) and the cladding plate (6), wherein the granular insulation (9) is in divided form and contained in at least one synthetic textile bag (10).

2. Insulation device according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic textile is a non-woven synthetic textile, in particular a needle-bonded geotextile.

3. Insulation device according to claim 1, wherein the granular insulation (9) is a porous granular insulation.

4. Insulation device according to claim 1, wherein each bag (10) has an essentially cylindrical shape, with a diameter that is less than or equal to the distance between the outer surface (32) of the rigid insulation layer (3) and the cladding plate (6).

5. Insulation device according to claim 1, wherein each bag (10) has an essentially parallelepiped shape and comprises partitions, so-called separation partitions (11) that are rectangular, parallel, and uniformly spaced and whose long edges are attached to the main surfaces (14a, 14b) of each bag so as to keep a distance that is less than or equal to the distance between the outer surface (32) of the rigid insulation layer (3) and the cladding plate (6) between said main surfaces.

6. Insulation device according to claim 1, wherein at least one part of the textile partitions of each bag (10) is perforated.

7. Insulation device according to claim 1, wherein the rigid insulation layer (3) comprises an anti-sink coating (34) on its outer surface (32), to which coating the spacers (4) are attached.

8. Insulation device according to claim 1, wherein the spacers (4) are attached to the rigid insulation layer (3) with a predetermined span (P) along parallel lines.

9. Insulation device according to claim 8, wherein the spacers are offset by a half-step between two adjacent lines.

10. Insulation device according to claim 8, wherein the spacers (4) of the same line are connected to one another by small U-shaped beams (5) that cover said spacers.

11. Insulation device according to claim 10, wherein the cladding plate (6) is attached to the small U-shaped beams (5).

12. Insulation device according to claim 1, wherein the cladding plate (6) is adapted to receive cover accessories (17) that are adapted to be attached to said cladding plate.

13. Method for thermal insulation of a building partition (1) from the outside, according to which: A first surface, a so-called contact surface (31), of a rigid and impermeable insulation layer (3), is attached to said partition (1), Spacers (4) are attached to a second surface, a so-called outer surface (32), of the rigid insulation layer (3) opposite to the contact surface, with a predetermined span (P) along lines that are parallel and orthogonal to a greater pitch line of the partition, The spacers (4) of the same line are connected to one another by small U-shaped beams (5), in such a way that said small beams cover the spacers, and A rigid and perforated cladding plate (6) is attached to said small beams (5) in such a way as to form an air gap (7) between said cladding plate (6) and the outer surface (32) of the rigid insulation layer (3), wherein before attaching the cladding plate (6), bags (10) of granular insulation (9) in divided form are attached between each line of spacers (4) to the outer surface (32) of the rigid insulation layer (3).

14. Insulation method according to claim 13, wherein the spacers (4) are offset by a half-step between two adjacent lines.

15. Insulation method according to claim 13, wherein each bag (10) is placed in such a way that the largest dimension of the cavity or cavities that form(s) it is parallel to the lines of spacers.

16. Insulation device according to claim 2, wherein the granular insulation (9) is a porous granular insulation.

17. Insulation device according to claim 2, wherein each bag (10) has an essentially cylindrical shape, with a diameter that is less than or equal to the distance between the outer surface (32) of the rigid insulation layer (3) and the cladding plate (6).

18. Insulation device according to claim 2, wherein each bag (10) has an essentially parallelepiped shape and comprises partitions, so-called separation partitions (11) that are rectangular, parallel, and uniformly spaced and whose long edges are attached to the main surfaces (14a, 14b) of each bag so as to keep a distance that is less than or equal to the distance between the outer surface (32) of the rigid insulation layer (3) and the cladding plate (6) between said main surfaces.

19. Insulation device according to claim 3, wherein each bag (10) has an essentially parallelepiped shape and comprises partitions, so-called separation partitions (11) that are rectangular, parallel, and uniformly spaced and whose long edges are attached to the main surfaces (14a, 14b) of each bag so as to keep a distance that is less than or equal to the distance between the outer surface (32) of the rigid insulation layer (3) and the cladding plate (6) between said main surfaces.

20. Insulation method according to claim 14, wherein each bag (10) is placed in such a way that the largest dimension of the cavity or cavities that form(s) it is parallel to the lines of spacers.

Description

[0037] Other objects, characteristics, and advantages of the invention will emerge based on the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of the insulation device according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the placement of the spacers and small beams of an insulation device according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the placement of bags of granular insulation according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 4 is a perspective cutaway view of a granular insulation bag according to one of the variants of the invention.

[0042] The thermal insulation device 2 shown in FIG. 1 is designed to insulate one partition 1 of a building (wall, sloped roof, or flat roof, etc.) by an attachment applied to the surface of this partition rotated toward the outside of the building. The device 2 comprises a rigid and impermeable insulation layer 3 that is attached to the partition 1 by a contact surface 31. In its thickness, the rigid and impermeable insulation layer 3 consists of, for example, at least one stratum 33 of insulation material such as expanded polystyrene or expanded polyurethane. These materials are in general in the form of foam with closed cavities making them impermeable to water. They also have good inherent rigidity, even if they are sometimes fragile. Based on the desired heat resistance and/or, as described below, on the nature of the partition 1, the thickness of the insulation material is variable and can be formed by multiple strata of insulating material bonded to one another.

[0043] The rigid insulation layer 3 also comprises an anti-sink coating 34 in the form of a laminated plate or a sheet-metal plate, preferably solid. This coating 34 is generally bonded at the factory onto a surface of the thickness of the insulation material to make it possible for it to have additional resistance to bending and to prevent the insulation material from deteriorating during construction site handling. In the contrary case, the coating 34 can be bonded to the insulation material strata on the construction site. For this purpose, it is possible to use a pre-painted steel sheet with a thickness of 0.75 to 1 mm or a laminated sheet with a thickness of 8 to 12 mm. The rigid insulation layer 3 can consist of a number of rectangular plates that are juxtaposed for covering the surface of the partition 1. On their edges, these plates can comprise assembly means such as a tongue.

[0044] Based on the partition to be insulated, three main cases can be considered: the thermal insulation device 2 is attached to a vertical partition such as an outside wall, or to a sloped partition such as a roof section. In this latter case, it is possible to use the insulation device according to the invention right on the frame or on a roof that is already made when the latter is made of sheet metal, for example formed by steel compartments.

[0045] In the case of an attachment to a vertical wall, the rigid insulation layer 3 is preferably bonded to the wall by glue beads, for example expanding foam if necessary aided by attachment plugs. Other attachment methods, known by one skilled in the art, for insulation from the outside can also be used provided that they make possible an adequate hold of the insulation on the wall. When the insulation device according to the invention is placed on the roof, it is advisable to remove the cover if the former does not make it possible to position the device on a flat surface (tiles, corrugated sheet metal, etc.). In this case, it is preferable to place a vapor-barrier screen directly on the existing frame and, for example, to hold it there by nailed battens. The insulation layer 3 is then bonded to the battens. In some cases, it is possible to preserve the existing roof, for example when the former consists of flat sheets comprising stiffeners of trapezoidal cross-section (steel compartments) at regular intervals. In this case, it is possible to bond between the stiffeners a first stratum of insulation material, with a thickness that is approximately equal to the height of the former for forming a flat surface. The placing of the rigid insulation layer 3 is then completed by bonding on this stratum a second stratum of insulation material comprising the anti-perforation coating 34.

[0046] Once the rigid insulation layer 3 is attached to the partition 1, spacers 4 of a generally parallelepiped shape (rectangular parallelepiped) are attached to its outer surface 32 (which is also the outer surface of the anti-perforation coating 34). These spacers 4 are made of, for example, perforated sheet metal that is painted and formed by folding and riveting. These spacers 4 are attached by, for example, bonding and/or riveting and/or screwing to the anti-perforation coating 34 by inserting, if necessary, a reinforcement plate 13 (FIG. 2).

[0047] The spacers 4 are attached on their surfaces corresponding to the thickness and to the length of the parallelepiped, in a uniformly-spaced manner along a span P, in alignment according to the length of the spacer along lines that are orthogonal to the slope of the partition 1. Thus, for straight walls or uniform roof sections, the spacers 4 are aligned according to the horizontal lines that are themselves uniformly spaced between them.

[0048] By way of example, the spacers 4 measure 250 mm long, 150 mm wide, and 70 mm thick. They are placed along a span of 600 mm on a horizontal line and offset by a half-step on the adjacent lines. The spacing between lines of spacers is also on the order of 600 mm, although this is not absolutely necessary; these dimensions can vary based on calculations of resistance and regulations regarding snow and wind that are applicable to the building.

[0049] The spacers 4 are made integral along lines of spacers by small beams 5 comprising a core 5a and two wings 5b retracted orthogonally to the core for forming a U-shaped profile. The width of the core 5a of each small beam is adapted so that the former can cover the surface of the spacers opposite to the surface for attachment of the former and so that the wings 5b of the small beam extend toward the attachment surface by framing the spacer. The length of the small beams 5 is preferably equal to an integer of span P, in general two or three, with a lower-value tolerance in such a way as to prevent any overlapping of one small beam on the adjacent small beam. The length of the small beams is also to be enough so that each end overlaps the spacer that it covers over at least 50 mm. The small beams are attached to the spacers by blind rivets placed through the wings of the small beams and main surfaces of the spacers that they cover in such a way as not to create rough spots on the surface of the cores of the small beams so as to be able to attach a rigid and perforated cladding plate 6 there at a predetermined distance from the rigid insulation layer 3 corresponding to the width of the spacers 4.

[0050] The cladding plate 6 is preferably made by means of painted perforated sheet-metal plates placed supported on the small beams 5 and attached to the former by means of blind rivets. Preferably, there is a rivet on each spacer and a rivet on the core of the small beam between each spacer pair. The cladding plate 6 is rigid enough to withstand forces exerted by a possible layer of snow (essentially on the roof) or by the wind (particularly on the walls). The cladding plate 6 is also perforated in such a way as to allow air to pass through perforations so as to prevent heating such as can be found on solid sheets.

[0051] In addition, the use of a rigid and perforated cladding plate 6 makes possible the flow of rainwater at least in part through the plate and also makes it possible to use perforations to simply attach accessories 17 to this plate. By way of example of accessories that can thus be easily attached, it is possible to cite photovoltaic or hot-water (solar water-heating) solar panels as well as their cables or connecting lines. In cold climates where the plates 6 are likely to be covered with snow, it is possible to attach snow guards to prevent snow slides around roofs or else coils for circulation of a heat transfer fluid to accelerate snow melt. Other accessories can also be easily installed, such as, for example, light strings or light-emitting diodes forming an advertising display screen.

[0052] According to an advantageous characteristic of the thermal insulation device according to the invention, a layer 8 of granular insulation material 9 in divided form, for example in the form of balls, grains, gravel, not connected to one another, is inserted between the outer surface 32 of the rigid insulation layer 3 and the cladding plate 6. Preferably, the thickness of this granular insulation layer 8 is limited to two-thirds of the spacing existing between the outer surface 32 of the rigid insulation and the cladding plate 6 so as to leave a free space making it possible to maintain an air gap 7 under the cladding plate 6.

[0053] The granular insulation 9 can preferably consist of expanded clay balls, which may or may not be porous, or else granules of pumice stone or pozzolan. So as to keep this granular insulation in place, it is placed in preferably parallelepiped bags 10 made of a non-woven synthetic textile, for example polypropylene geotextile needle-bonded felt. Such a textile has the advantage of being naturally porous and of being able to be assembled by heat-sealing. Of course, any other textile—whether it be woven or not—can be used, provided that it can be closed by sewing, bonding, heat-sealing, etc. Likewise, if it is preferable that the textile used be naturally porous, an impermeable textile can be used by producing—on its surface—perforations making it possible for water to enter toward the granular insulation.

[0054] Such a bag 10 is illustrated in perspective intersected by a median plane as in FIG. 4 and comprises two main rectangular surfaces 14a and 14b placed opposite one another and whose respective edges are heat-sealed to one another for forming a closed bag. The main surface 14a is in addition perforated in such a way as to make possible a direct intake of rainwater. Between the main surfaces 14a and 14b, rectangular separation partitions 11 are placed parallel to one another and sealed to the two main surfaces by a flap 15 formed on their long edge so as to define cavities 16. The width of the separation partitions 11 is provided to keep the thickness of the layer 8 of granular insulation 9 essentially constant. The filling of the cavities 16 of the bag 10 is carried out by one of the edges that are orthogonal to the separation partitions, and then the edge is closed by heat-sealing edges opposite the main surfaces.

[0055] The dimensions of the bags 10 are provided to be multiples of the span P for the length so as to place them parallel to the lines of spacers 4 supported on at least two spacers and for corresponding to the spacing between two lines of spacers for the width. The bags 10 are attached to the outer surface of the rigid insulation layer 3 by glue beads 12, parallel to the lines of spacers. The bags 10 are arranged in such a way that the direction of the separation partitions 11, which also defines the largest dimension of the cavities 16, is parallel to the lines of spacers 4 (and therefore perpendicular to the greater pitch line of the partition on which the insulation device is placed) in such a way that the length of the cavities 16 is also orthogonal to this greater pitch line (see FIG. 3).

[0056] By way of example, the dimensions of a bag 10 adapted to the thermal insulation device whose dimensions were given above are on the order of 600, 1200 or 1800 mm long, 600 mm wide, and the constant thickness maintained by the separation partitions 11 is on the order of 100 mm.

[0057] As a variant, the bags 10 can be made of a single cavity formed by a cylindrical casing obtained by folding a geotextile felt sheet on itself and sealing its edges in such a way as to form a cylinder with a length of one, two, or three spans P and a diameter that is approximately equal to the distance existing between the outside surface 32 of the rigid insulation layer 3 and the cladding plate 6. So as to form the air gap 7 below the former, the cylindrical bag is filled to only 80% of its capacity, making possible its flattening on at least two glue beads 12 to obtain an oblong cross-section whose small diameter corresponds to the desired thickness of the granular insulation layer 8. In this variant embodiment, the cylindrical bags are arranged in such a way that the axis of the cylinder (which corresponds to the largest dimension of the single cavity) is parallel to the lines of spacers 4, with multiple bags being used to fill the spacing between two lines of spacers. Of course, the bags 10 can be arranged in parallel rows or staggered, each bag resting on two other bags.

[0058] Thanks to the presence of this granular insulation layer, the thermal inertia of the insulation device and therefore of the building that is insulated with this thermal insulation device is improved. In addition, the rainwater reaching the cladding plate 6 passes through it at least in part owing to its perforations and reaches the granular insulation layer 8 in which it is temporarily trapped. The streaming of the rainwater is thus slowed, minimizing the risks of clogging from rain drainage. In addition, in the event of fast alternation of precipitation and sunlight, the evaporation of trapped water creates a phenomenon of local climate control.

[0059] Of course, this description is provided by way of illustrative example only, and one skilled in the art could provide numerous modifications thereto without exceeding the scope of the invention, such as, for example, modifying the dimensions and the arrangement of the spacers and bags of granular insulation to adapt to the geometry of the building to be insulated. Likewise, the accessories that can be attached to the cladding plate 6 are not limited to the devices described above, with the perforations of the cladding plate also able to make it possible to attach a thatched roof covering, for example.